Cigarette holder



Oct. 25, 1955 c. B. HOWARD CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed May l. 1951 IN V EN TOR. BY (Y2/"eme @Howard ATT-ORNE YS UnitedStates Patent() 2,721,559 CIGARETTE HoLDER Clarence B. Howard, Oakland, Calif., assignorV of one-half to Ernest H. Kueffer, Berkeley, Calif.

Application May 1, 1951, Serial No. 223,985

Claims. (Cl. 13'1-187) This invention relates to improvements in cigarette holders and in particular to the type holdery which also acts to shield 'the burning cigarette and to extinguish same.

Holders representative of the prior art type possess an inherent disadvantage in that the shielding or extinguishing tube is concentric and in contact with the holding tube which is adjacent the mouthpiece. In order to effect its shielding and extinguishing purpose it must be iireproof and should be a good thermal conductor and therefore practical considerations dictate that both tubes be metallic. As the shielding tube slides on the holding tube the` abrasion between the sliding lsurfaces produces a very fine metal powder which appearsblack or very dark in color irrespective of the color of the metal of which the contacting surfaces are formed, although the degree to which this effect occurs depends on the contacting metals. This results in a grimy or smutty surface being exposed when the shielding tube is extended to its operative position. Thus, when the user handles the cigarette holder either to place it on the desk or to resume smoking, his fingers and hands become soiled or stained. The grimy or smutty surface is an inherent result of the` concentric tubes sliding in surface contact with each other. Also, any dust or other material which may accumulate on one of the surfaces is ground into dirty powder which also readily soils the hands. This is particularly objectionable when the user must deal with working materials such as paper or linens that become soiled very easily. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holder which will not soil the hands or clothes of the user.

Briefly, this is accomplished by providing a plurality of concentric tubes arranged so that contacting surfaces remain substantially unexposed to the users touch at all times, whereas handling surfaces which have not been exposed to become grimy are provided.

The foregoing will be better understood when the invention is describedin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational-view of the cigarette holder in the closed position;

Fig. la is an end view of the holder showing the concentric tubes;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the holder with the shield in operating position;

` Fig. 3 is an exploded View taken in side elevation of the holder; and

Fig. 4 is a View in cross-section of the holder.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the structure, in Fig. l, a protecting tube 1 is in coaxial alinement with a shielding tube 3. It should be noted that both of these tubes may be knurled or not as desired, the knurling serving only to effectuate easier gripping or handling of the cigarette holder. A portion 3a of the shielding tube has a slightly smaller diameter than the portion 3. The butt end of cigarette 4 is illustrated as being contained in a recess 5 which is provided for this purpose. Protecting Frice tubeV 1 may be of any suitable material such as plastic or metal; the shielding tube 3 should be metallic.

At the other end of the holder there is shown a mouthpiece S attached at the proximal end of tube 1. Referring to Fig. 4 (which is a cross-section of Fig. l), this mouthpiece contains a passage 9 for smoke and a seat 7 for the threaded male screw member 10 which detachably couples the mouthpiece to the protecting tube. The tip 11 of the mouthpiece facilitates supporting of the holder in the users mouth. The mouthpiece may be made of Bakelite, amber, bone or any other suitable material.

In Fig. la there is shown an end view of the holder of Fig. 1 including the cigarette. The shielding tube 3 contains a portion of a cylinder 12, the other end of which is concentric with the protecting tube 1. Looking briefly at Fig. 4, the cylinder 12 contains the recess 5 and the shoulder 5a defining this recess.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a view in side elevation of the holder with the shielding tube 3 extended to protect or extinguish cigarette 4 (not shown). In this View the varying or graduated diameters of shielding tube 3 are readily apparent, portion 3b having the smallest diameter, portion 3a an intermediate diameter and portion 3 the largest diameter. Thus it may be seen that portion 3b of the shielding tube is concentric with, and may be contained in, the protecting tube.

In Fig. 3 there is shown an exploded View in side elevation of the cigarette holder. The cylinder 12 is concentric with the protecting tube 1 and attached at the proximal end thereof. This may be accomplished by a force fitting, threaded fitting or any other type coupling. Between protecting tube 1 and the 4cylinder 12 there is left an annular space wherein the portion 3b of the shielding tube 3 may be axially moved without its outer surface contacting either the concentric tube or the cylinder. The portion 3a of shielding tube 3 is adapted to fit snugly into protecting tube 1 at 3c. Cylinder 12 fits rather tightly into the portion 3b of the shielding tube 3. This enables the shielding tube 3 to move along cylinder 12 in such a manner that the portion thereof, namely 3b, does not contact with the inner surface of protecting tube 1. Expansion means 15 in shielding tube 3 are provided for two purposes. First, to enable the placing of the shielding tube portion 3b over the cylinder 12, and secondly, to engage the milled surface 17 shown at the end of cylinder 12 so that shielding tube 3 will not become disassembled from the remaining portion of the holder.

In the non-operative position (as in Fig. 1) the shielding tube 3b will be contained within the protecting tube 1, leaving only the collar exposed. As has been hereinbefore mentioned, portion 3b has a diameter such that the outer surface thereof will not contract the inner surface of protecting tube 1. Thus the underlying principle of the present invention as shown by the illustrated forms is retained, while providing a somewhat more compact holder which is simplified slightly for ease in manufacture and resultant cost reduction.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a cross-section view of my cigarette holder. Filter means 19 are provided in cylinder 12, preferably extendingbeyond the distal end of protecting tube 1. These means may comprise any of the known filters or any other suitable type. When the mouthpiece 8 is removed, a used filter may be replaced by a new one by merely introducing the new filter through recess 5, thus forcing the used filter out of the opposite end. Thus the used filter may be ejected without the necessity of handling it. Further, this holder is designed to accommodate most present day commercially available filters.

The annular space 21 between protecting tube 1 and the cylinder 12 insures that the surface of portion 3b of shielding tube 3 will be protected from dirt and it will also permit axial movement of this surface without contacting any other surfaces. Thus when shielding tube 3 is extended to its operative position, the portion thereof, namely 3b, provides a clean surface for handling purposes. This surface is located near the balance point of the entire holder and thus provides a convenient and desirable location for handling the holder. The surface also provides an extension to the surface of protecting tube 1, thus forming a greater overall length suitable for handling purposes.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modification Without departing from the scope of this invention and, accordingly, I do not Wish to be limited to the particular arrangement shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. A cigarette holder comprising in combination, a protecting tube, a coaxial metal cylinder located therein and attached at one end thereof, the outer diameter of said cylinder being substantially less than the inner diameter of said protecting tube to leave an annular space therebetween, a connecting means adapted for the attachment of a mouthpiece to the common end of said cylinder and protecting tube, the other end of said cylinder protruding beyond said protecting tube, the said other end of said cylinder having an inwardly deflecting flange defining a recess therein adapted to receive the butt end of a cigarette, and a metal shielding tube slidably mounted on and bearing against the outer surface of said cylinder and extensible to cover cigarette held in said recess and retractable to cover a major portion of said cylinder only, said shielding tube having graduated diameters such that a portion of said shielding tube seats within said annular space and the major portion thereof moves Within said protecting tube without contact therewith and only a minor portion thereof contacts the protecting tube.

2. A cigarette holder comprising a protecting tube, a coaxial metal cylinder within said protecting tube and secured to one end thereof and extending beyond the other end of said protecting tube, the relative diameters of the tube and cylinder being such as to leave an annular space between said protecting tube and cylinder, coupling means adjacent said one end of said protecting tube adapted to receive a mouthpiece, the projected end of said cylinder having an inwardly deflected flange defining recess adapted to receive the butt end of a cigarette and said cylinder being externally milled in the vicinity of said recess, a metal shielding tube slidably mounted on said cylinder having a proximal end with an external diameter such as to permit it to move within said annular space without contacting the major portion of the inner surface of said protecting tube, the said proximal end being provided with expansion means, the latter engaging the cylinder in tight sliding contact and, when the tube is extended, abutting the milling on the cylinder so as to prevent separation therefrom.

3. A cigarette holder comprising a protecting tube having proximal and distal ends, a coaxial metal cylinder having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the protecting tube located within said protecting tube and secured to said proximal end and extending axially of said tube leaving an annular space between said protecting tube and cylinder, coupling means secured at said proximal end adapted to receive a mouthpiece, the unsecured end of said cylinder having a recess therein adapted to receive the butt end of a cigarette, an abutment on the external surface thereof, a metal shielding tube slidably mounted on said cylinder and having expansion means at one end thereof, the major portion of said shielding tube having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said protecting tube so as to move within said protecting tube through said distal end Without any substantial surface contact therewith, said expansion means being adapted for abutting engagement with the abutment on the said distal end.

4. A cigarette holder comprising a bit, a cylindrical metal holding tube secured to said bit projecting therefrom for at least the length 0f a cigarette, a metal shielding tube slidably mounted on s aid holding tube and of sufficient length substantially to enclose a cigarette carried by said holding tube when said shielding tube is slid to its extended position, and a protecting tube secured to said bit and surrounding the portion of the holding tube exposed by the shielding tube when moved into extended position to cover a cigarette and adapted to enclose the proximal end of said shielding tube when slid into its retracted position, the major portion of said proximal end of said shielding tube being of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said protecting tube to fit within said protecting tube Without sliding contact therewith.

5. A cigarette holder as defined in claim 4 including means for preventing said shielding tube being accidentally wholly withdrawn from engagement with said holding tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,616,396 Smith Feb. 1, 1927 1,705,099 Schonfeld Mar. 12, 1929 1,774,073 Williams Aug. 26, 1930 1,781,553 McClus Nov. 1l, 1930 1,821,267 Lorsch Sept. 1, 1931 1,941,531 Blankenship Ian. 2, 1934 1,997,629 Collver Apr. 16, 1935 2,185,672 Lantman Jan. 2, 1940 2,342,853 Furstenberg Feb. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,758 Denmark July 30, 1945 294,823 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1928 329,826 Italy Sept. 24, 1935 427,801 France June 3, 1911 582,086 France Oct. 8, 1924 610,225 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1948 724,089 Germany Aug. 18, 1942 

